A used, clean, with low round count 686 Beretta is always a good choice. As long as the gun fits you properly.

 

Yep, a good used Beretta or Browning should be in your price range. Have a qualified gunsmith fit it to you

 

I would keep an eye out for a used Browning also.

 

$1500 for a new O/ U is mostly garbage. Sorry.

 

Never said anything about new, the guns I named are all from the used market.

 

For what purpose, and what barrel length do you want?

 

sporting clays, 30 or 32".

 

Some good used Brownings in the classified section.

 

The words good quality and low price do not go together.

 

Miroku mk38, Browning B525, Browning B325 all good value for the money used. Now to find one that hasn't been abused..

 

There have been Beretta and Browning shotguns listed in the classifieds on this site for $1500 and less. There was a Beretta 686 for like $1100 not that long ago. A used Browning Citori, CX, CXS, or Cynergy can often be found in your price range. You do not have 25 posts on this website yet, so you cannot use the classifieds, but good deals on quality o/u's do come up on this site.

 

Miroku on the used market are great deals.

 

Avoid Lanber. OK in their day but they went under 18 years ago and parts are non existent.
They do and will break.
Used Beretta’s and Browning’s are your best bet. They will be quite used though.
You might get lucky and stumble on a deal for a newer used CXS also which is just a cheapened 425.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1120085440

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1110911888

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1108895520

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1116937441

 

Being "under-capitalized", getting an old, obscure shotgun carries the risk that a simple consumable, like needing a new firing pin or replacing a spring, might cost more cash and time out of service than you can afford.

For the fellow who has a gun safe full of nice shotguns can afford to fool around, educate himself, and roll the dice with an old classic like a Miroku. After all, if it breaks, he has plenty of money and other shotguns in the gun safe to enjoy while it's being sent far away to be fixed. If you don't have the knowlege to evaluate a 50 year old shotgun, hey... what could go wrong?

A basic 686 or Citori have been around so long for good reason. Parts are available and gunsmiths know them. Sometimes the wise choice is to not outsmart yourself. Just get what just about everyone else has. I used to look down my nose at Cynergys, until I shouldered one. Huh, it looks a lot better to me now. I'd own one if a deal came along.

If you want to dive deep into obscure, specialty shotguns, there are nice variations on the 686 platform. But hey hold their value and... $$$.

The best cheap over-and-under shotguns is a good quality semi-auto.

 

Used Beretta or Browning - whichever fits you the best. If strictly for clays, do not get a field model; find a target version

 

definitely would not buy a field gun

 

Cabelas has some great deals on Mirokus and Brownings coming in from the UK. Go to the Gun Library online, sort by over/under, and start clicking. Not to many 32s, but a boatload of 30s

 

Cabelas a some great deals on Mirokus and Brownings coming in from the UK. Go to the Gun Library online, sort by over/under, and start clicking. Not to many 32s, but a boatload of 30s

I have been eyeing the Cabela's website a lot lately.

 

Expand your maximum to $2000 and the world opens up a good bit. Your problem in the used guns will be finding the 30" or 32" barrels. Setting a price and sticking to that is a good thing. But....if you set it too low for the market it is counter productive .

 

$1500 is not the end all be all, just a sold number I would like to stay close too

 

Beretta 686

 

I would buy a new Weatherby Orion Sporting. They are well made and would fit an average sized guy pretty well. They are more reliable than a 686 in my opinion.

 

Browning citori.....i got my hunter grade . 410 for 1750 new. Plus Browning offers rebates occasionally....however mine is not for clays,i hunt and backyard clay with it. Some skeet here and there. I'm the opposite of everyone and prefer short barrels, maybe because i hunt in a lot of thick stuff. I CHOSE 26" barrels. As others have stated, citori has been around quite awhile and parts are readily available.

 

You might also look at SKB shotguns. Later models were made in Japan and the new ones are made in Turkey.

 

I would haunt the used shelves. I picked up a lovely Beretta TR-1 perfect starter SBT for the princely sum of 200 bucks ported and screw choked. I will be posting it on gunbroker for substantially more. 90% gun. I would take 500 here. Not at all hard to find quality long barreled 12 gauge shotguns used.

 

For 1500, if patient, you'll be able to find a good gun. Beretta semi auto's, 391, A400 guns should be on your list. Great guns, you'll have a good chance of finding a browning O/U in your price range. Finding a 686 Beretta for clays at that number it more than likely will have issues that will need attention. Stay away from the BL series guns

 

My son shoots an A400, it is a very fine shooting gun. I have also looked at the 391s, not opposed to a semi auto, but just looking in a different direction for now.

 

At your price point look for a pre 1994 Beretta 680 ( 680/682/687) series. Barrel length selection will be limited but you will have a rock solid competition grade gun that can be rebuilt.

 

Buy the Beretta, repairs for those 4 choices will be tough !

 

For those saying Beretta 686, which model? And is the 687 better or pretty much the same?

 

The 687 these days are a cosmetic upgrade of the 686 and are field only with the exception of the Joel Etchen Signature models. Those are actually 687’s with 682 internals.

 

According to many people on this thread, only berettas and brownings are quality. They are quality, but there are others. CZ USA has earned a good reputation and even new, is in your price range. There's the Italian guns, Rizzini, Guerini, Fabarm. Occasionally, you'll find one used on sale for around $1500. Miroku is good. I don't know about the others you mentioned.
No matter what gun you buy, consider that one day it may need some work or a replaced part. And if/when it does, you'll probably want a company to back it.
Recommendation: Save enough money to buy the gun that you like and fits and feels right to you. You'll never be happy with anything else. Don't waste your money on something you don't like or doesn't fit. You'll end up replacing it, and in the end the cost will be more.

 

You've been given some sound advice. You can't go wrong with a used Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon if you can find one for $1,500, or less. But I would also suggest considering a new Weatherby Orion 1, in either 12 or 20 gauge models that you can purchase new for about +/- $1,200. depending on the model you select for your intended primary shooting needs (hunting upland birds or waterfowl, clays, etc.) and weight, barrel length, finish (glossy blue or matte finish). Pluses for the Orion 1 are that its action is patterned after the Beretta 686, although made in Turkey, and has a the same balance point, a respectable wood to metal finish, well regulated barrels that shoot to the point of aim, points and swings well in the 28" version, has an adjustable comb in the sporting clays model, and is backed by Weatherby with their 5 year warranty policy. If purchased it at a Scheel's store, you'll get it a good price point and can return it without question if you are not satisfied with for any reason. Additionally, Scheels is a Weatherby authorized dealer and excellent reviews have been published by Project Upland, Gun Dog Magazine, American Hunter, and others including Randy Wakeman on this site, and on various U-Tube videos. I have a 2024 20 gauge Orion 1 field grade gun with the glossy blue 28" barrels and am pleased with it for a good looking and shooting light weight field gun for those long days in the field climbing steep rocky hills or trudging across snow covered fields and prairies in search of upland birds. I hope this helps with your decision.